Tuesday, February 23, 2021, the world was shocked at the news that Tiger Woods career was over. After being involved in a single-car accident, Woods was left with a shattered ankle and two leg fractures, one of which was a compound fracture. Numerous athletes both young and old have never been able to come back after an injury of that caliber. At Woods’s age and point in his career, it was almost a guarantee that his career was over. 

That was until this year on November 21, when Woods posted a video to instagram. The video showed the 45 year old hitting golf balls for the first time since the car accident, with the caption, “making progress”. The video was only 3 seconds long, but it was just enough to ensite hope into golf fans around the world that Tiger Woods would be trying to make his return to professional golf. 

This video was further developed when PGA Tour golfer, and close friend to Woods, Justin Thomas spoke about Woods on the “No Laying Up” podcast, “”I know that he’s going to try. I don’t see him ever playing if he can’t play well. He doesn’t strike me as a guy who’s played at home and he’s shooting a bunch of 75s and 76s and he’s like, ‘OK, I’m gonna give Augusta a try this year.’ That’s not really gonna be him, at least from my understanding, what I know of him,” Thomas said. Woods will not come back to professional golf just because he can, but will come back when he knows he can compete to win. 

Woods last PGA tour event was in fact the 2020 Master’s where he was competing as the defending champ. Woods also participated in the PNC Championship with his son Charlie Woods, before the crash, which was officially the last time we saw him play golf. It was up in the air whether or not Woods would return to the PGA Tour, and everyone was holding their breath as the suspense grew. 

This now brings us to December 8, 2021, almost a year after the incident, Woods announced on Twitter the news everyone was waiting for, “Although it’s been a long and challenging year, I am very excited to close it out by competing in the @PNCchampionship with my son Charlie. I’m playing as a Dad and couldn’t be more excited and proud,” Woods said. This event is not a PGA Tour event, but it is a start. It will be the first time we see Woods on the course in competition in over a year. 

 The PNC championship consisted of two days where Tiger and his son Charlie would be playing a two man scramble (Both Tiger and Charlie will hit off their designated tee box, and select the best ball for each shot from there on out for each hole). The first day was a slower start for the pair as they finished with a 10 under par 62. They would need to do some catching up if they wanted a chance to beat John Daly and his son who shot a first round 60. Round two on Sunday saw team woods in the classic sunday red with black pants. Woods finished with a very solid round to have a chance at first place, but ultimately finished at second place behind a record breaking weekend by Team Daly who finished 27 under.

From watching, it is clear that Tiger is not 100 percent quite yet. There is still a slight limp in his step, and isn’t swinging the club as fast. However, the world should still prepare to see Tiger Woods playing professionally, he has a lot left in the tank.